CMF Responds to Medical Emergency Aboard Iranian Fishing Vessel
USN-5th Fleet: MANAMA, Bahrain - Combined Maritime Forces responded to a medical emergency aboard an Iranian fishing vessel some 400 nautical miles north of the Seychelles, off the coast of Somalia early, Jan 5.
The ship had issued a distress call for urgent medical assistance after a member of the crew suffered a head injury whilst repairing an engine.
US Destroyer USS Momsen, serving with Combined Task Force 151, CMF's counter-piracy mission, was the nearest ship in the vicinity. A medical team from the MOMSEN treated the injured crew member, a fifteen year old boy, on board the fishing vessel. Fortunately his injuries were not serious and there was no requirement for him to be medically evacuated.
CTF-151's mission is to deter, disrupt and suppress piracy, protecting maritime vessels of any nationality and securing freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin. In conjunction with NATO and EUNAVFOR, CTF-151 conducts patrols in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor and supports Best Management Practice methods for piracy avoidance that are promoted to the shipping industry.
CMF is a unique naval partnership based in Bahrain, consisting of 25 member nations, which contribute ships, aircraft and personnel in support of the mission.
CMF works to promote security and prosperity across some 2.5 million square miles of international waters in the Middle East and is committed to defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and promoting a safe maritime environment.